Improvement in shackles for prisoners



iTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN O. GARDNER, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 54,889, dated May 22, `1866.

To all whom it may concer/r1.:

Be it known that I, JOHN O. GARDNER, of Portland, in the county of Multnomah7 in the State of Oregon, have invented an Improved Shackle and Supporter thereof; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and eX` act description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters and igures of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention and improvement consists in an improved shackle to be used with a screw-bolt or a bolt to rivet.

This shackle is convenient and more certain to prevent the escape of those to whom it may be fastened than the ball and chain, which can With ease be removed or severed by the aid of an edged tool at any time when opportunity offers.

The shackle is to be composed of any hard metal, such as iron, steel, or copper, made with or without hinges, and to weigh from six to twelve pounds, or heavier, according to the strength of the person upon whom it may he fastened. This shackle No. l is riveted With a center rivet, No. 2, when placed upon the ankle, and this center rivetis protected by four blind rivets, Nos. 5 5 5 5,011 either side of the same, and also by a bolt or screw, No. 7, running parallel through the center rivet, for the purpose of resistance to edged tools. The shackle is supported by a supporter, No. 3, consisting of a half-round iron ring passing around the leg or ankle immediately under the shackle, to support it during the day, While at work or otherwise, and to take all Weight oft' of the ankle while standing or sitting. To this support-er is attached a strap, No. 4, passing under the heel of the shoe, and fastened at either side and at the bottom on the heel with rivets or screws Nos. 6 6, this strap attached to the supporter to be one-eighth of an inch thick by one and one-fourth of an inch wide, attached to the half-round iron ring one-fourth of an inch thick by three-fourths of an inch wide.

This improved shackle has been repeatedly tried by meupon the inmates of the penitentiary at this place and found. to be the only kind of a shackle to prevent the escape of desl perate characters, who had broken outformerly and made their escape while secured` by ball and chain, which they managed to sever with edged tools.

This shackle cannot be easily removed. In fact, it is almost impossible to remove it with ordinary tools; but it Will remain securely fastened in spite of all ordinary appliances, such as might fall within reach of those upon whom it may be fastened, as that the center rivets in the ends of the shackle cannot be got at, and, if they could, they are composed of the hardest of steel, which edged tools willl not affect in the least.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The invention of an improved shackle and the supporter, and the mode of fastening them upon the ankle, as hereinbefore described. 

